Astros 1B Jon Singleton opens up about marijuana addiction

Jon Singleton said he is clean now after going to rehab. (Mark Cunningham/Getty Images)

Houston Astros prospect Jon Singleton, a top young first baseman, went on the record about what he says was an addiction to marijuana, according to an ESPN report on Tuesday.

After a month stay at a rehabilitation center and a 50-game suspension handed down in January 2013 for a second failed drug test, the 22-year-old said he admits that he was a "drug addict." He said in the report that he continued to smoke even after being issued the suspension, and that he went through withdrawal while in rehab. He said he started using the drug at 14 years old.

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"At this point it's pretty evident to me that I'm a drug addict. I don't openly tell everyone that, but it's pretty apparent to myself...I know that I enjoy smoking weed, I enjoy being high, and I can't block that out of my mind that I enjoy that," he said. "So I have to work against that."

The Astros released a statement following Singleton's remarks, commending him for "the courage he has shown in tackling this issue head on," according to the report:

"We applaud Jon for the courage he has shown in tackling this issue head on. He has displayed a great deal of maturity and commitment over the past year and has the full support of the Astros organization. He is on the right track for his baseball career and, more importantly, for his life. We are very proud of Jon."

Singleton, who said he is clean now and no longer smokes marijuana, went 0-for-2 on Monday in a 4-0 win over Miami during spring training.

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